Our first Writer’s Competition was a great success! Thanks to all of you who competed -- we hope to offer similar events next year. We had 47 entries, with almost half requesting individual written critiques. The number of tough choices indicated to the judges that the craft of writing is alive and well, that competition gets the creative juices flowing, and that some of our contributors are following the right road toward publication. These were the six judges, each of whom read and rated all the entries:

    •    Mike Cassidy, editor and publisher of the regional magazine, The Good Life 

    •    Patricia N. Clarke, Chelan author of many books and magazine articles for children

    •    Jefferson Robbins, entertainment editor for the Wenatchee World’s Go! Magazine

    •    Pat Rutledge, former editor and owner of A Book For All Seasons in Leavenworth

    •    Dan Sconce of Wenatchee, Pacific Northwest Writers Association winner for poetry

    •    Carin Smith, Peshastin veterinarian and widely published non-fiction author

    We are very pleased to introduce the top writers.  Judges granted an Honorable Mention to Gloria Piper Roberson of Wenatchee for “Then.” Third place award went to Cashmere’s Shannon Sims for “Release, ” and in second place was Allen Cox, from Tacoma, with “Deep River.”  We’re especially proud to announce the first place writer Rachael Lundin, a Peshastin rehab technician, guitarist, avid reader, and mother of three, who wrote “All Alone.  Please take some time to enjoy the work of each of our prize-winning local writers! 

Release by Shannon Sims

Deep River by Allen Cox

All Alone by Rachael Lundin

Then by Gloria Piper Roberson from Wenatchee

  Our doors are now open. Sign up online for the 2008 Write on the River Writers' Conference. Any questions you may have regarding WOTR 2008 may be directed to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

  The 2008 writers conference promises to bring to North Central Washington a host of talented writers and workshops, another compelling keynote speaker and those vital opportunities to network with others who share your passion for the craft of writing.

New York Times bestselling author of 20 books, Elizabeth George, will be in Wenatchee to present the 2008 Write on the River keynote address. George is one of only two American writers to have their work adapted for PBS's "Mystery" series. For more about George and the 2008 keynote, click here.